Demon
Demons are a race of extra-dimensional entities that originate from Muspelheim and Vanaheim. They rely on dark magic to cast powerful spells to destroy their foes. They are characterized by cold and heartless personalities, showing no remorse for tormenting and killing others. They are often depicted as malevolent and cunning, seeking to draw goodly souls away from salvation so that they will enter Niflheim or Hel.
The origins of demons in Midgard are debated, with two primary theories vying for supremacy. The first ties their appearance to Satan Morroc, suggesting that his first incursion into the realm opened up the paths through Yggdrasil's roots to allow demons of lesser power easier access to Midgard. The second theory posits that the remains of Ymir, the immense jotunn once slain by Odin, call to demons through Yggdrasil, seeking revenge upon the world Odin created with his flesh and blood.
These routes through the world tree periodically open up, either in response to magic or due to some cycle. Only beings of immense might, such as Satan Morroc or Odin, are capable of boring a hole through Yggdrasil. It is considerably less effort to call forth a small crack in the walls between dimensions, utilising the paths bored by these powerful beings. These fissures may be created through magic, or in response to strong emotions and desires. Once these cracks are formed, it is much easier for them to grow, allowing more powerful creatures through.
In an age long past, the first human mages of Geffen summoned an army of demons to fight against the elves who inhabited the magical kingdom of Geffenia. In the ruins of Geffenia may be found many demons, yearning to corrupt the souls of normans. All demons in Midgard have a primeval desire to destroy, despoil, and dominate. This power may be brought under control by force of will or by feeding.
Some demons can corrupt not only the soul, but the body. One such case of this is the legend of Dracula, whose dabbling with demons resulted in vampires. Vampires are not the only demonic entities to require an odd source of sustenance. Many demons feed on innocence, leaving behind sin. Their odd feeding habits are the source of the abilities classified as 'dark magic'. This dark magic is essentially a capacity to enhance an aspect of the demon's prowess.
People seeking to create a demon character may be interested in the below table. The unusual feeding habits and the ability that they empower are usually linked. A list of suggested enhancements and food is provided below, but as long as you can explain the link between your character's enhancement and requirement, that is okay.
| Example Ability | Suggested Food | Suggested Food | Suggested Food |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magical Power | Lust^ | Love^ | Blood* |
| Strength | Rage | Pride | Blood* |
| Speed | Fear | Rage | Blood* |
| Constitution | Blood* | Rage | Love^ |
^Lust and love need not be fed upon through sex. If the character does feed through sexual activity, it is expected that the player will handle this maturely.
*Blood can come from any living animal; it need not be from one of the playable races.
Feeding
Some demons can feed with little damage left on the source of the sustenance. An example of this might be a demon who feeds on rage by watching angry people. Often, a demon's feeding, when done directly upon a living creature, leaves a thrill of emotion, a tingling sense of euphoria, lowered inhibitions, and a feeling of relaxation. This can become addictive to those who are fed upon. Feeding often directly affects the soul of those who are fed upon, leading to changes in personality and, in some cases, physiology. For the individual feeding, in addition to increased power, they can exert greater self-control when they are sated.
In contrast, those who do not feed for a while become physically weakened at first, looking pale and sick as their subconscious battles with the primal urges within them. The length of time before this event varies, but as a general rule, demons who have gone more than three days without feeding begin to exhibit signs of this. Their enhanced abilities disappear, and then they start to become mentally scattered. This manifests in a number of ways, for example; forgetfulness, dropping off mid-conversation, and suddenly finding oneself lost. This is a result of the primal parts of their demonic origins exerting more control over their mind. The third and final stage before madness is full of unpleasant hallucinations. Visions, phantom smells and sounds plague the sufferer. Though it is possible to recover from this state, most demons think of this as the point of no return; even if one does recover, they are almost always forever changed by the experience.
The madness occurs when the primal nature of demons asserts full control, and there is no known cure for this. Any civilised demons who have reached this point are usually given a swift, painless death out of mercy.